Historical Note

The Bates College Women’s Resource Center (WRC) was begun in 2000, with widespread support from students and other campus and community members, who felt that such a center would be valuable in light of widespread problems such as sexual assault, harassment, and eating disorders on college campuses. According to its constitution, the WRC aims to: create a safe space for women on campus; provide a space for the exchange of ideas outside of an academic setting; build a supportive community; generate dialog between women and men regarding women’s/gender issues; and to raise awareness of those issues -- all to “help create a campus free of sexism, discrimination and violence.”

By 2001 the WRC had established weekly meetings, regular hours, and a resource library including books, magazines and videos. The WRC continues to sponsor or co-sponsor monthly brown bag lunches, movie nights, speakers, and conferences, for topics including but not limited to: domestic violence, the effect of immigration laws on women worldwide, gender archetypes in the arts, sex and pop culture, breast cancer awareness/prevention, women’s history, student activism, and reproductive freedom.

In January of 2005 the Peci Family Trust made a large bequest to Bates College, which included a gift of $10,000 in the name of Vera Vivian von Peci (Bates ’42,) to establish a current use fund in support of WRC programs.

Collection Overview

This collection contains administrative records, programming materials, clippings, brochures, photographs, DVDs and posters documenting the history of the Bates College Women’s Resource Center. It also contains records pertaining to associated women's organizations, women's groups on other campuses, and assorted feminist issues.

Arrangement note

This collection is arranged into five series: Organizational Files, Programming, Associated Organizations, Informational Resources, and Special Formats. Only a minimal level of arrangement has been done within the series, with original order mostly maintained save for refoldering from binders and consolidation of previously loose materials.

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library

70 Campus AvenueLewiston, Maine, 04240207-786-6354muskie@bates.edu

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The collection is the physical property of Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library. Bates College holds literary rights only for material created by College personnel working on official behalf of the College, or for material which was given to the College with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission from rights holders for publication or other purposes that exceed fair use.

Associated Organizations

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Women's Action Coalition 1995

Historical Note

The Women’s Action Coalition at Bates College was founded circa 1993, after a previous group called “Womyn’s Awareness” dissolved. The WAC was dedicated to “discussion, support, information and advocacy of and for women and women’s issues.” This group brought lecturers and performers to Bates, organized marches, and co-sponsored events with other campus groups. They also put out a newsletter called “Our Time of the Month."

WAC - Our Time of the Month newsletter, Dec. 1994/Jan. 1995

Feminist Action Coalition 2005

Historical Note

The Bates College Feminist Action Coalition was started in 2005, as a “non-sectarian, non-partisan, voluntary organization that utilizes resources made available by the Feminist Majority Foundation.” Its purpose was to empower women by advocating social, political and economic equality through political action and awareness of issues such as reproductive health, domestic abuse, and global women’s issues; and to provide leadership, education and community for feminists on campus. The FAC was founded because the Women's Resource Center was not meant to be an overtly political organization.